"It made you nervous because something like this just happened", said passengerPaul Upshaw, who was sitting two rows back, to the AAP. "We didn't know if it was going to crack open".

This is the second high-profile flight diversion by a Southwest Airlines plane in less than three weeks.

"The are multiple layers of panes in each aircraft window".

Passenger Linda Holley texted her son Ryan with a picture of the damaged window. The airline had previously opposed a recommendation by the engine's manufacturer to inspect the blades on their planes after metal fatigue was found to be the reason behind the engine failure and emergency landing of a Southwest plane in 2016.

Flight captain Tammie Jo Shultz flew the plane with only one engine. The FAA is now investigating the incident, it has been confirmed.

Cell phone video captured the moment as 76 passengers were told to disembark Flight 957 at Gate B8. The airline estimates the drop in sales will cost it between $50 million (€42 million) and $100 million.

Airline consultant Robert Mann says windows are periodically polished to remove the formation of tiny cracks in the acrylic windows from exposure to chemicals and the sun's rays. The pilots also had to land the plane at around 190 miles per hour, faster than the usual landing of around 160 miles per hour, because they had to keep their flaps angled low.

One person died after being partially sucked out a window. The FAA on Tuesday ordered additional inspections of fan blades in hundreds of additional engines similar to the one that failed in the deadly Southwest accident on April 17.